Eddie Ndopu

Eddie Ndopu is an award-winning humanitarian and a renowned advocate for disability and environmental justice. He is recognized for his significant contributions as a United Nations Sustained Development Goal Advocate and founder of A Billion Reasons, a social impact incubator in partnership with the World Economic Forum. Ndopu serves on several influential boards, including the United Nations Foundation, The Valuable 500, Imagine, and Verizon’s Global Advisory Board for Accessibility and Disability Inclusion. His leadership roles in these organizations demonstrate his commitment to fostering inclusivity and advocating for social justice.

Ndopu's advocacy work is further complemented by his written contributions. His debut memoir, "Sipping Dom Pérignon Through a Straw," was notably selected by Apple as one of the best books in August 2023, and was also recognized as one of Amazon’s best books of the same year. This recognition from major technology and e-commerce companies speaks to the wide reach and significant impact of his writings. Ndopu’s intellectual influence has been acknowledged by TIME, naming him as their Person of the Week, and by Pacific Standard, who included him in their “Top 30 Thinkers Under 30” list.

As a public speaker, Ndopu has been invited to deliver keynotes at global platforms such as Facebook, Amazon, Discovery Health, the COP26 Climate Change Summit, The World Economic Forum, and The Skoll World Forum. His speaking engagements emphasize topics such as Global Citizens, Humanitarians & Activists, Intersectionality, Leadership & Public Service, LGBTQ+ Speakers, and Social Justice & Equity. Ndopu's goal to become the first wheelchair user in space exemplifies his relentless pursuit of shattering barriers and challenging societal limitations.